Package for products and method for packaging products

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a package for products, in particular electronic components,comprising a box-shaped outer package ( 1 ) and an inner package ( 102 ), wherein the outer package is provided with an inner space ( 6 ) formed by at least a bottom ( 2 ) and sidewalls ( 3, 4 ) and the inner package is borne on at least two bearing parts ( 13 ) of the outer package folded in the inner package such that the inner package extends substantailly parallel to and at distance from the bottom of the outer package.

The invention relates to a package for products. In particular, theinvention relates to a package for company and consumer products such aselectronic products, for instance telephones, dictaphones, drives,network parts and the like.

As a rule, such products were packaged in a cardboard outer package inwhich different inner packages can be provided also from, for instance,cardboard. The product itself, booklets such as instructions for use andcertificates of guarantee, batteries, battery chargers, cords and thelike were packaged separately and packaged in the inner space of theouter package. This was a laborious manner of packaging, expensive andlittle environmentally friendly due to the large amount of packagingmaterial. Moreover, as a result, the product was not presented in anattractive manner.

It has already been suggested to solve a number of these problems bymanufacturing a dish-shaped inner package, vacuum formed from plastic ormade of paper pulp, in which the product can be laid with a number ofaccessories. This dish-shaped inner package has a lower longitudinaledge on which it can rest on the bottom of the outer package. With sucha package, the inner package is formed either so low that associatedbooklets, CD-ROMs, cords and the like can be placed thereon, or so highthat these accessories can be packaged below the inner package withinthis longitudinal edge. In the first case, the drawback arises that theproduct is still not visible in an attractive manner, while in thelatter case the inner package is to be particularly high, so that themolds required thereto will be complicated, relatively much material isrequired, the production cycles will take a long time and a relativelyinstable inner package will be obtained.

The object of the invention is a package of the type described in theopening paragraph, comprising an inner and an outer package while atleast a number of the drawbacks of the known packages are avoided whilethe advantages thereof are maintained.

A package according to the invention is characterized by the features ofclaim 1.

With a package according to the invention, an outer package is usedwhich is, for instance, rectangular and box-shaped and defines an innerspace. The outer package is provided, in the inner space, with bearingparts folded therein, on which the inner package can be borne. To thatend, the inner package can be of dish-shaped design, provided with alongitudinal edge, which longitudinal edge can rest on the bearing partsmentioned.

The bearing parts are folded in the inner space, preferably as flaps ofa blank from which the outer package has been set up. These bearingparts have a height and position such that the inner package is held ata distance from the bottom of the outer package, so that space iscreated thereunder for accessories such as booklets, charger, cords, CD,battery and the like. The product to be packaged such as a (mobile)phone, computer part such as a drive, network parts such as hubs or thelike can be laid in the inner package at the side remote from thebottom, so that this product is presented in an attractive fashion and,moreover, is screened off well.

To that end, in an advantageous embodiment, in the inner package, whichis preferably of dish-shaped design, a receiving cavity for the or eachproduct is provided, in which the product can be laid while, preferably,the package is provided with a cover which, in closed position, liesrelatively closely on the top side of the inner package therebyconfining the product in the product cavity.

Preferably, the inner and outer package are manufactured from recyclablematerials, in particular materials that can be included in a waste paperstream for recycling. Preferably, then, the outer package is fromcardboard, in particular solid or corrugated cardboard, while the innerpackage is preferably manufactured separately from a starch-basedproduct, more in particular a somewhat foamed material such asPaperfoam®, Barneveld, the Netherlands. Such a material is described in,for instance, PCT/NL96/00136 and PCT/NL96/00337 incorporated herein byreference.

Preferably, an inner package according to the invention is dish-shapedwith a structure such that a form cavity and a longitudinal edge areprovided such that the bottom side of the form cavity is virtually inone plane with the longitudinal edge so that when the inner package islaid on a flat surface, the longitudinal edge and the form cavity can besupported by the surface without the inner package becoming damaged.

The invention further relates to a blank, suitable and intended forforming an outer package for a package according to the invention.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for packaging products,characterized by the features of claim 8.

With such a method, in a rapid and simple manner, relatively inexpensivepackages can be manufactured for products or having products therein,which require little space for storage prior to use, offer a goodprotection and, moreover, present a product to be packaged in anattractive manner.

In the further subclaims, further advantageous embodiments of theinvention are described. In clarification of the invention, exemplaryembodiments thereof will be described with reference to the drawing. Inthe drawing:

FIG. 1 shows, in perspective view, an opened outer package according tothe invention;

FIG. 2 shows, in top-plan view, an outer package according to theinvention, in opened condition, with the inner package taken out;

FIG. 3 shows, in top plan view, an outer package according to theinvention, in opened condition, with an inner package placed therein;

FIG. 4 shows, in cross-sectional side view along the line IV-IV in FIG.3, a package according to the invention, in opened condition, with aproduct and accessories to be packaged therein; and

FIG. 5 shows a blank for an outer package for a package according to theinvention.

These embodiments shown should not be construed to be limitative in anymanner. In this description, identical or corresponding parts haveidentical or corresponding reference numerals.

FIG. 1 schematically shows, in perspective view, an outer package 1 fora package 100 according to the invention, folded from a cardboard blank101 as will be described with reference to FIG. 5. This outer package 1comprises a rectangular bottom 2 with a length L and width B and twopairs of sidewalls 3, 4 connected to the bottom via first folding lines5. The bottom 2 and the sidewalls 3, 4 define an inner space 6. On oneof the large sides of the outer package 1, a sidewall 3 is connected toa cover 7, connected thereto via a fourth folding line 8 parallel to therespective first folding line 5. On the small sides of the outer package1, each sidewall 4 is designed so as to be double such that they can befolded over enclosing flaps 9 connected to the large sidewalls 3 and arefitted in the bottom 2. To that end, the sidewalls 4 comprise an outersidewall flap 10, connected to the bottom 2 via the first folding line5, and an inner sidewall flap 11, connected to the outer sidewall flap10 by a second folding line 12, of double design, parallel to therespective first folding line 5. The second folding line comprises twoparallel folding lines interspaced at a distance approximately equal tothe thickness of the cardboard of the blank.

On two opposite sides, each inner sidewall flap 11 is provided with abearing flap 13 connected to the respective inner sidewall flap 11 by athird folding line 14 which, in the embodiment shown, is approximatelyat right angles to the first folding lines 5. Each bearing flap 13 has aheight H1 which is smaller than the height HO of the inner space 6 (FIG.4), while, when the package 100 is set up, the edge 15 of the innersidewall flap 11 facing the bottom 2 and the bearing flaps 13 areapproximately flush, and rest on the bottom. The edge 15 of the innersidewall flap 11 is provided with a projection 16 that fits in a recess17 in the bottom 2, adjacent the respective first folding line 5.

The distance B1 between the parallel third folding lines 14 is smallerthan the width B of the bottom 2, while the bearing flaps 13 have alength Ld which is selected such that the total distance B2 between thefree longitudinal edges 18 of the two bearing flaps 13 of each sidewall4 is greater than the width B of the bottom 2.

As clearly appears from FIGS. 1 and 2, with the outer package 1 set up,the bearing flaps 13 extend in the inner space 6, while the freelongitudinal edges 18 thereof abut against the inside of the largelongitudinal walls 3. The bearing flaps 13 include an angle α with saidsidewalls 3, for instance an angle between 20 and 70°, more inparticular approximately 45°. The topside 19 of the bearing flaps 13 isthen at a distance H3 of the top edge 20 of each of the sidewalls 3, 4.

The cover 7 is provided with a cover surface 21, a cover end surface 22connected thereto via a fifth folding line 23 and provided with twoinsert flaps 24 which, when the package 100 is closed, can be insertedalong the enclosing flaps 9 between the inner and outer sidewall flaps10, 11. The cover surface 21 is further provided with two dust flaps 25that can be inserted along the inner sidewall flaps 11.

As clearly appears from FIGS. 3 and 4, a dish-shaped inner package 102can be placed in the inner space 6 of the outer package 1, which innerpackage 102 can rest by a longitudinal edge 26 on the four bearing flaps13 extending in the inner space 6. In the embodiment shown, the innerpackage 102 is manufactured from a starch-based material such asPaperfoam®. Such a material is known from, for instance, internationalpatent application WO 98/13184 or WO 96/30186, incorporated herein byreference. The inner package 102 has a relatively thin wall, forinstance one or a few millimeters thick and has a total height H₄ whichapproximately corresponds to the distance H₃ between the top edge 19 ofthe bearing flaps 13 and the upper longitudinal edge 20 of the outerpackage 1. In the inner package 101, a form cavity 27 is provided, inwhich a product 28 such as a phone can be placed. In the form cavity 27,an opening 29 has been provided, in which a finger can be inserted forlifting the inner package 102 from the outer package 1. The lower side30 of the form cavity 27 and the longitudinal edge 26 are approximatelyin one plane, while the top side 31 of the inner package 102 and the topside 32 of the product 28 are also approximately in one plane, whichplane is located at only a small distance from a plane defined by thelongitudinal edges 20 so that, with the package 100 closed, the product28 is confined in the form cavity 27 by the cover surface 21.

In the inner space 6 below the inner package 102 a space is provided inwhich accessories 33 have been packaged, schematically represented asrectangles.

When opening a package 100 according to the invention, by pivoting thecover 7 away, the product 28 in the inner package 102 comes to lie clearin an attractive manner. The accessories 33 are all neatly covered bythe inner package 102 but can be reached in a simple manner by removingthis.

As the inner package 102 has a relatively small height H₄, for itsmanufacture, particularly simple molds can be used with shortrun-through times for manufacture, relatively little material andmoreover, these inner packages 102 take up relative little space whenstored. As the outer package 1 is folded from blanks 101, these take uplittle space in folded out condition when stored. Due to the design ofthe blank, in particular the bearing flaps 13, when setting up the outerpackage, directly, bearing means for the inner package 102 are obtained.Moreover, as they rest on the bottom 2, a particularly rigid package isobtained which, furthermore, is dust tight. Use of starch-basedmaterials for the inner package, such as Paperfoam®, further offers theadvantage that a good protection against static charge is obtained.

The invention is not limited in any manner to the exemplary embodimentrepresented in the description and the drawing. Many variations thereonare possible within the framework of the invention as outlined by theclaims.

For instance, the bearing flaps can also be provided in a differentmanner, for instance folded from the large sidewalls 3 or, optionally,be built up in part, folded from different longitudinal walls.Optionally, also, separate bearing parts can be folded in. Naturally,the inner package 102 can be manufactured from different materials, forinstance by vacuum forming or from paper pulp. However, from anenvironmental and energetic point of view, this is less advantageous.The inner and outer package can be designed differently. For instance,the inner package can have a lower longitudinal edge 26 which is not inone plane, while the height of the different bearing flaps 13 can beadjusted thereto. Naturally, in the inner package 102, several formcavities 27 can be provided as well as, for instance, logos, productcharacteristics and the like, and decorations. It is particularlyadvantageous if the inner package 102 is self-bearing.

These and many comparable variants are understood to fall within theframework of the invention as outlined by the claims.

1. A package for products, in particular electronic components,comprising a box-shaped outer package and an inner package, wherein theouter package is provided with an inner space formed by at least abottom and sidewalls, and the inner package is borne on at least twobearing parts of the outer package folded in the inner package such thatthe inner package extends substantially parallel to and at a distancefrom the bottom of the outer package.
 2. A package according to claim 1,wherein the inner space has a height, approximately at right angles tothe bottom, which is at least twice as great as the height of the innerpackage, while the outer package is provided with a cover and the innerpackage is borne in the inner space such that it virtually abuts againstthe cover if the outer package is closed.
 3. A package according toclaim 1, wherein the inner package is provided with a form cavity inwhich said at least one product such as an electronic component can bereceived.
 4. A package according to claim 1, wherein the outer packageis folded from a blank, which blank comprises at least the bearingparts.
 5. A package according to claim 1, wherein the outer package andthe inner package are manufactured from substantially natural products,in particular materials recyclable with, or recyclable as paper.
 6. Apackage according to claim 1, wherein the inner package is manufacturedfrom a material produced on the basis of starch, such as Paperfoam®. 7.A blank for an outer package of a package according to claim 1, whereinthe blank is provided with at least one bottom face, four sidewall flapsconnected to said bottom face via respective first folding lines, twoopposite sidewall flaps being connected at the side remote from thebottom face via second folding lines to fold-over flaps, the fold-overflaps and/or the respective sidewall flaps each being provided onopposite sides, via third fold lines, with bearing flaps forming bearingparts which bearing flaps extend such that when the box is set up, theyinclude an acute angle with the bottom face and include an acute anglewith at least one of the sidewalls, in particular with the sidewall towhich they are connected via the respective third folding line, whilefrom the bottom, the bearing flaps have a height which is smaller thanthe height of the sidewall flaps.
 8. A method for packaging products, inparticular electronic components such as mobile phones and the like,preferably in a package according to claim 1, wherein an outer packageis set up, in particular from a blank, while forming an inner space withat least two and preferably at least four bearing parts set up in itsfour corners, whereupon in the inner space at least accessories of theor each product to be packaged such as a charger and booklets can belaid, whereupon an inner package is laid over said accessories, borne onsaid bearing parts, in which inner package the or each product to bepackaged is laid in a product cavity open at a side remote from theinner space, whereupon a cover is closed over said inner package and theor each product included therein.